Restoration of Las Cruces Dam could lead to large-scale park

By Steve Ramirez/sramirez@lcsun-news.com

Posted:
11/29/2012 06:36:38 PM MST

Click photo to enlarge

City Manager Robert Garza and Christine Sorg, of Las Cruces, take in the views during the Las Cruces Dam Restoration groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday. The 700-acre project is located directly behind the Las Cruces Dam, east of I-25.

LAS CRUCES — With $1.65 million in environmental improvements to be made at the Las Cruces Dam, the city-owned facility could potentially become the next Central Park.

City officials, representatives from New Mexico's congressional delegation and Army Corps of Engineers, and interested residents gathered Thursday to break ground on a project aimed at restoring environmental integrity to the dam and surrounding areas.

"This very well could be the first step toward a much larger-scale development that could make this a recreational area for city residents," City Manager Robert Garza said. "Think of it this way, Central Park in New York City is 500 acres; the area of city-owned land along the Las Cruces Dam is 700 acres. We have lots of visions."

Since the late 1990s, city officials and the Army Corps of Engineers have been working together to modify and improve the Las Cruces Dam to remove sediment, repair damage caused by years of wind erosion and to protect native wildlife and vegetation in the immediate area. The Army Corps of Engineers, which built the dam in the early 1970s, will provide much of the funding needed to make those improvements.

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A Notice to Proceed was issued Thursday and restoration work is expected to begin in early January.

The funding will be used to complete an ecosystem restoration project, also referred to as a Section 1135 project. Proposed improvements include construction of two seasonal wetlands using reclaimed gray water, restoration of riparian vegetation and native Chihuahuan Desert vegetation, designated scenic overlooks, wildlife observation areas, trails with interpretive features, and a parking facility for visitors and users of the open space.

The city will provide approximately $130,000 in matching funds.

"We are most thankful that the Army Corps of Engineers is willing and able to proceed with this project in Las Cruces," Garza said.

Mayor Pro Tem Sharon Thomas, whose City Council district includes the Las Cruces Dam, said persistence has finally paid off.

"In 2007, one of the first problems I heard from residents in our district was the dam restoration project wasn't going to happen," Thomas said. "We had a lot of challenges ... but the city kept working closely with the Army Corps of Engineers and our congressional delegation."

Councilors Miguel Silva and Gill Sorg also expressed their excitement about the improvements becoming reality.

"It's projects like this that make it a joy to be a city councilor," Silva said. "Seeing this project come to fruition really is a joy."

Like Garza, Silva said he, too, has visions.

"The potential to make this a premier recreational area, the city couldn't benefit more," he said.

Sorg's comments were in the spirit that good things come to those who wait.

"This fits in very much with our strategic plan. But it also fits in well with our sustainability program," Sorg said. "...This is (also) going to be a very good educational tool."

Las Crucen Nancy Stotts, an Audubon Society member, said the environmental improvements will have both quality-of-life and economic development benefits for the city. The improvements could make the Las Cruces Dam one of the more popular bird watching venues in the state, which would bring more people to the city to use an improved recreational facility.

"I've long recognized that to have 700 acres of habitat within the city is incredible," Stotts said.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at 575-541-5452. Follow him on Twitter @SteveRamirez6

ONLINE EXTRAS:

To see a draft report on the Las Cruces Dam Restoration Project or a City Utilities story related to the Las Cruces Dam, go to www.lcsun-news.com and click on the link on top of this story.

Las Cruces Dam Restoration Project

— The Las Cruces Dam stretches approximately four miles north-to-south across the city, between Lohman Avenue and Northrise Drive.

— The dam was built in the early 1970s by the Army Corps of Engineers to provide flood protection for the city.

— It is situated on approximately 700 acres of flood pool, maintenance roads and right-of-way for the Las Cruces Outfall Channel.

— The 700 acres is the largest city-owned open space in Las Cruces. By comparison, Young Park is 35 acres.

— Altogether, $1.6 million from the Army Corps of Engineers will be spent to remove sediment, repair damage caused by wind erosion, and protect the native wildlife and vegetation in the immediate area.

— Work will begin in January, and the project will be completed in June 2014.